Survivors Get Leg Up in State Title Quest

The list of Southern Section wrestlers pursuing a state title will dwindle considerably today.

League finals for the Channel, Golden, Frontier, Marmonte and Pacific View leagues take place, with top placers advancing to their respective division finals in two weeks.

There are changes this season. The formation of the Division IV Pacific View League created a competitive five-team league that resulted in a co-championship between Hueneme and Rio Mesa.

But it left the Channel League, perennially among the Southern Section’s top Division I leagues, with only Buena, Dos Pueblos and Ventura.

Since the top three placers at each weight class will advance to the Division I finals Feb. 20 at Ayala High, each team will send a representative.

“Basically, if you make weight, you can pack your bags,” Ventura Coach Paul Clementi said.

In the other leagues, the competition should be tougher. Here’s a league-by-league breakdown:

* Marmonte: At Simi Valley, 10 a.m. Top three in each weight class advance to Division III finals.

Thousand Oaks was undefeated in the league for the second consecutive year, going 6-0 to extend a string of consecutive league victories to 13.

Wes Cobos (145), Larry Schneider (152) and Jason Park (135) are returning league champions. Cobos, a Times All-Ventura County running back, is vying for a third consecutive title, his first at 145.

Cobos is 26-1, losing only to Ventura’s Trevor Clocherty in the Camarillo tournament.

“I just kind of moved up in weight naturally,” Cobos said.

At 145, Cobos is competing in one of the league’s toughest divisions. It includes Simi Valley’s John Lecky, who is 17-8 and lost only to Cobos in league competition, and Royal’s Shannon Sams.

Cobos’ goal is to reach the Southern Section Masters Meet for the first time. After the season, he probably will quit wrestling.

“Football is my first sport,” Cobos said. “I wrestle because it’s fun and challenging. It’s totally more demanding.”

Schneider is 26-5. Heavyweight Chris Jansen is another Thousand Oaks hopeful.

Lecky, Tyson Hadduck (171), John James (160) and Robert Gaytan (112) are Simi Valley’s best.

Lecky lost to Cobos, 3-1, in overtime. The others were 6-0 in league competition. Hadduck, third in the league last season, is 26-5 and reached the finals in two tournaments.

Others to watch include Steve Bowen (140) and Mike Brems (130) of Newbury Park.

* Golden League: At Quartz Hill, 10 a.m. Top two at each weight advance to Division IV finals.

Highland’s John Garfinkel unquestionably ranks as the region’s best pound-for-pound wrestler.

Garfinkel (160) enters his fourth league tournament with a 47-2 record and 30 pins. One of Garfinkel’s losses came against Ryan Kane, defending state champion from Temecula Valley. The other was a disqualification for an illegal hold. Garfield was ahead, 11-0.

Garfinkel broke former teammate Stuart Young’s state record for career pins. He recorded a pin this season in 13 seconds.

Highland’s Robert Estrada (152) is 27-2 and a two-time league champion. Estrada was second at the section finals last season. Adam Cloud (189) is 42-6 and a returning league champion. Joey Wilson (112) was undefeated in league competition.

Highland was 5-0 in winning its seventh consecutive dual meet league title. Palmdale was second at 4-1.

Palmdale’s best wrestlers are Devin Zemp (14), a three-year varsity member, and Hugo Monje (119), a transfer from El Camino Real.

Another to watch is Adam Wheeler of Lancaster (215).

* Channel League: At Dos Pueblos, noon. Top three wrestlers in each weight division advance to Division I finals.

The format is round robin. Ventura, undefeated in four dual meets, won the league title.

Ventura, 10-11 overall, has been stronger in recent years. But the Pirates have a handful of good wrestlers.

The best is Clocherty, 38-3. Clocherty, a four-year wrestler, placed first at the grueling Canyon Springs tournament and one of his losses came against an opponent who was 37-1.

Pacific View League: At Camarillo, 10 a.m. Top two in each weight advance to Division IV finals.

Hueneme and Rio Mesa, former members of the Channel League, tied for the league title in the inaugural season.

Senior Tiloi Tuitama of Hueneme (189) is the league’s best wrestler. A returning state qualifier, Tuitama is 34-4. Oscar Carbajal (119) of Hueneme, is 22-7 and a defending league champion. Taavili Pollard (215) and heavyweight George Tapia give Hueneme strength at upper weights.

Rio Mesa’s Caleb Bautista, nephew of former state qualifier Jesse Bautista of Rio Mesa, placed second at 112 last week at the Centennial tournament. Nathan Bautista, his cousin, is a favorite at 152.

Hugo Mendez (215) lost to Pollard in the league but finished first at the Centennial tournament.

Frontier League: At Chaminade, 10 a.m. Top two at each weight advance to Division V finals.

Alemany defeated Calabasas, 42-30, on Wednesday in a battle of undefeated teams to finish 5-0 and win the title in its first season in the league.

Three Alemany wrestlers--Joe Urzua (130), Marcos Herrera (135) and Albert Masih (heavyweight) are undefeated in league. Senior Weston Di Meo is 38-6 at 189. Senior Ricardo Garcia is 37-6 at 160.

Calabasas’ Ricardo Ibarra (103), Noah Golden (135), Steven Hauss (140) and Richard Klein (215) were unbeaten in league competition.